Gster said:

 

How many times have you turned down an aisle in a grocery store to find someone "in the shopping zone" , stopped in the middle of the aisle , blocking it and totally oblivious to anyone or anything around them?

It's amazing, and these people drive cars and vote!!

 

lindainks55 said:

 

Then there are those shoppers who come from someplace where they drive on the WRONG side of the road!

 

Vaughn Tolle said:

 

Now, Linda, take it easy on me! :-)

 

lindainks55 said:

 

Nope! You get yourself and your cart in the RIGHT lane!

The only European country I've ever visited is Ireland. They drive on the WRONG side of the road. Wayne did the driving -- I wasn't brave enough to even try. I was challenged by the sidewalks!! They walk on the wrong side and more than once (NOT a fast learner!) I was a sidewalk traffic jam...

 

Gster said:

 

Are we going to have to invent the Grocery POOOOlice?

 

Vaughn Tolle said:

 

Linda, I usually keep my cart and my oversized person on the "Right". I will, however, veer to the "Left" iff the "right" is blocked by some infernal being too occupied talking on her/his cell phone, or if the "right" is jammed up by some good soul who cannot determine just which brand of canned green beans s/he should buy.

It's a family joke about grocery shopping with me. I'm oft accused of attempting to break all existing world land speed records with my cart, flying down the aisles, running over old people, children, and the hapless stocker who gets in my way. These accusations are false, false I tell you!! Just to show you how wonderful I am, I often stop and assist the vertically challenged in retrieving the desired item from the rear of the top shelf, the only recompense requested being that person get an item I desire from the lowest shelf.

As I was employed by Dillons during high school, I often joke that put me in a Dillons store with which I am not familiar, give me five minutes, and I'll be off with nary a look back to do the required shopping. The secret is the Dillons' inventory system. Think about it for a while, and if I need to explain further, I shall.

One chore that falls to me always is the selection of the fresh produce, given my experience. Truly, this does slow me down, as I carefully inspect each onion, apple, ear of corn, to ensure selection of the closest of each to perfection. Here, again, I show the grandness of my generous nature, having often selected corn, e.g., for others who marvel at my abilities. I'm now in my fifth year at the Dillons at Central and Rock with certain folks who come up to me and say, "Do you remember..." (which I don't, of course), and off to the corn, onion, etc., bin we travel.

 

lindainks55 said:

 

Vaughn, You've outdone yourself! Had me laughing all the way. What a delightful telling.

That five minutes in Dillons would be difficult unless it was one of their quieter, less-busy times of day. Thus, the running over old people, children and hapless stockers I presume. But I do know a Dillons is arranged as a Dillons, is as a Dillons... If you've been in one you can usually figure them all out.

I remember you are a tall man. How tall? So it would look funny to watch you get to the lowest shelf and then gradually unfold your height to stand back up.

Now tell me, is there a better tasting apple than the Fuji? They look wretched on the outside, but ah, the sweetness, the crispness once you've tasted can't be beaten! In my opinion. Opinions -- we all have one (at least one!).

 

Vaughn Tolle said:

 

Linda, at my zenith, 6'4". My greatest asset back then was the ability to reach to 8' standing flat footed on the floor. Long arms and all that did come in handy when I was the worst high school basketball player ever, and continue to be helpful in my later years. "Back in the day" I was but 165 lbs, dripping wet. Some 40 years later, have put another 90 lbs on, which makes unfolding a bit more difficult. :-)

Fujis are hard to beat when it comes to taste, no dispute there. As I recall, this variety was the favorite of both girls. My wife prefers the tartness of a Granny Smith. I'll eat most apples, just that I like some better than others. My personal weakness when it comes to fruit is the plum, in all its varieties.

Working produce in high school also taught me the dangers of eating too many strawberries at one setting. When the cases of berries would arrive, it was necessary to sort those "too ripe" from the pint containers, so that there were pints to sell which would have a longer life. The overly ripe berries would either go into the trash, or be eaten by those adolescent males who could never be filled up. Shall I say "hives"? That's what happened to me one glorious day after consumption of just a few too many strawberries. It was worth it.

 

lindainks55 said:

 

Gary, Sounds like Vaughn is the lawless, the lawyer, the cause of trouble and the kind and helpful. A grocery pooolice might catch him in the web! I think it needs to be a taller-than-average web. He sounds like a fast moving dodger of grocery laws.

Gary, if you have my email addy would you send me your email addy?? I guess one of us has to have the others addy for any of this to work!

 

Gster said:

 

Linda- I have your addy at home via the Purple Chicken.

Gary

 

Wendy said:

 

Dubya -

I find it hard to believe Wichita didn't make the list! Talk about bad driving habits... And I have to drive through the destruction zone known as Central and Woodlawn (and now it's Woodlawn from Central to Kellogg) EVERY DAY to and from work. If you think people are bad on the open road, you should see how they drive in a construction zone... My blood pressure probably raises 10 points on my commute :) Even more so now since the kiddo has reached the age of repeating so my muttered expletives that used to release some tension can no longer be muttered, as I learned, much to my chagrin, last week, when the two year old repeated the "dammit" that came out of my mouth quite by accident, and has not stopped since :) Although his little "Dammit! Mommy, thats a bad word. I said Dammit!" can be amusing, just not in certain (read: grandmother) company...
And he has decided he does not like the employees at Wal Mart for some reason (although I have to admit they are not high on my list right now either, and I am currently "boycotting" them) and told me so last night when we drove past the store "Mommy, I don't like those peoples" Ahhh, out of the mouths of babes - I am sure he will provide entertainment to the masses should we ever run in to Vaughn at Dillons :) Especially as I would be one of those vertically challenged individuals asking for help!

 

lindainks55 said:

 

I agree about Wichita drivers. Many do some dangerous speeding and weaving to accomplish their goal of being first in line at the next stop light or sign. I also grow weary of those Dubya mentioned that stay in the fast / passing lane with an attitude of, "I'm doing the legal limit so don't expect me to move over so YOU can break the law." I don't like self-appointed protectors! I think Dubya is being more than gracious in his thinking that they are oblivious to the havoc they cause.

Maybe many Wichita drivers are vacationing in Miami and that's how they got their place on the list.

I absolutely love what children say! Including their take on repeating what we said and how we feel. They sure have a wonderful way of making us accountable!

 

Rox said:

 

I decided long ago that turn blinkers were against the law in Kansas. I manage to break that law as often as possible, even when turning into my own driveway!

Wendy, I drive the Central/Woodlawn crashway when I take my daughter to work, so I feel your pain. Another daughter works AT Central and Woodlawn, so I'm sure we could start a club. I had to suddenly pick up the first daughter last Friday, started ten minutes late, and hit the worst of the traffic. By the time I picked her up and made it home again, I was a mental case. The original plan had been to get downtown and save seats for my other two working daughters, hubbies, and the grandkids for the parade, but as it turned out, they made it long before I did.

As for grocery stores and Wal/K-Marts/Targets, and any other store where carts are used, I try my best. But when a family of 3 meets a family of 5, and they all gather in the center of an aisle, my BP skyrockets. Especially when each subsequent aisle I try is the same. Then there are the vultures in the parking lot, who sit and wait...and wait...and wait for a car to pull out, blocking all cars behind them from going on to take a parking place that means walking a few extra spaces to the door.

Ah, yes, I love to rant. And since I'm off to pick up that daughter at work...

Wish me luck!

 

Vaughn Tolle said:

 

An accident just waiting to happen is the part of Kellogg Drive just west of Armour and the merge from Kellogg for those exiting onto said Kellogg Drive for Woodlawn and Edgemoor. The two happen to coincide in an area marked solely by some type of portable devices. The west-bound traffic on Kellogg Drive is to yield to the traffic exiting Kellogg. The problem for me is at that said point where the two "merge", it is quite difficult to determine whether, when I am on Kellogg Drive, there is anyone exiting Kellogg until said vehicle is upon me. Notwithstanding the posted limit of 35, most of the exiting traffic is traveling in excess thereof, as seemingly is most of the west bound traffic on Kellogg Drive. BTW, this is on the North side, in front of Rust Eck Ford. Complicating things is that immediately west of the merge point is a turn into Eastborough Apartments. I've personally witnessed five near misses within the past week, as someone coming up to turn into the apartments, slowing down to turn and not seeing the merging traffic, is almost struck by the merging vehicle.

Central and Woodlawn is traveled by us weekly, usually on Sunday, on our way to the Rockwell branch library. Things I've seen at/near said intersection leave me speechless, unless I wish to resurrect my NCO vocabulary, which my wife urges me to not do.

Most of the "parking lot vultures" Rox describes appear to me to be those who would benefit from the longer walk. And, for what I consider to be the ultimate outrage and abuse of a privilege, the "magically appearing" handicapped parking permit which does not appear until after an apparently nonphysically handicapped individual swoops into a parking place reserved for those who are, and the permit remarkably takes its place hanging from the mirror, to be removed as soon as said individual returns to the vehicle and leaves. Now, I'm not talking about the situation where there is another person in the vehicle, who may rightfully be entitled to the privilege; I'm talking about the person, traveling alone, that has a "sudden onset" condition requiring the exercise of the privilege who then is suddenly healed once back into the vehicle.

Oh, I could rant about the cell phone talkers, seemingly oblivious to all arouond, as they run stop signs, red lights, go the wrong way on a one way street, not to mention those folks who think the automobile is the library reading room to be taken advantage of while "driving" down the street/highway, those putting on makeup, etc., etc.

However, the most dangerous cell phone user is this one woman who apparently is employed at the Finney State Office Building. Daily, she leaves her employment, gets on the phone, and proceeds to walk against lights, in front of vehicles leaving parking lots, runs into other pedestrians, and seems quite upset, especially with other pedestrians on the sidewalk, when she collides with them as if they're to be on the lookout for her!

 

Wendy said:

 

Vaughn,

one thing I can tell you, from having a cousin in a wheelchair, who therefore has a handicap permit that he carries with him at all times to use when not in his family vehicle, is that those permits do specifically state on them that they are NOT to be left on the rearview while the vehicle is in motion, as they A) pose a sight hazard and B) could potentially fly off of said mirror and do some serious damage, especially during an accident. Not to excuse said people, who most likely ARE taking advantage of the disabilities of a family member, but that is the explanation for why those permits are not on their mirror when they park :)

Linda, you will enjoy this little story then - Last week, as we were pulling in the drive after work, my son looks up at the house and says "mommy, is this our house?" to which I reply, yes it is. And he looks at me in all seriousness and says "We need a new house, mommy." So glad he informed me of that, especially as the fiance and I ARE looking for a new house.

 

lindainks55 said:

 

Wendy, they are much more intelligent than we give them credit for! They hear and take in most everything their heroes (parents) say. You must be so proud! There is no more honorable job than raising a child to become a productive happy adult. No harder job either! They'll make you bust your buttons, worry yourself sick, and break your heart a few times over.

 

Vaughn Tolle said:

 

Wendy, thanks for that clarification. As you likely gathered, it isn't the folks in the wheelchairs, or obviously otherwise suffering from a physical disability that get my goat. I don't have any issue with them; it's the suddenly appearing permit placed on the mirror by the seemingly physically healthy ones.

 

Wendy said:

 

Vaughn, I completely understand. And having a family member who IS handicapped, I get even more irate over the people who do abuse the privilege.

Linda, Yes, I am extremely proud. Although sometimes frustrated - he is at THAT age after all, and he doesn't much like to let me forget it. But then he has moments like last night, where he looks at my fiance and says "Shane, I'm sick" and Shane replies "You're not sick" and my son comes to me and says "mommy, I'm sick, I need pop" - the pop being what he was after all along - apparently, from my letting him drink sprite when he had the stomach flu week before last, (and that being the first and only time I have allowed him to drink pop) he deduced that he has to be sick to drink pop, so he was therefore "sick" because he wanted pop. The quickness of the kids mind astounds me so much of the time. Now, if he could just apply all that intelligence to his potty training, I would be a much happier mommy! I know he KNOWS what he needs to do to go to the bathroom without wetting himself, because he will periodically do it, he is just too stubborn to do it all the time... And I am quickly realizing that he is much more strong willed than I!